Since I will probably be able to start playing again and I could collect most of my material previously stored at a friendís place, I thought it could be of some interest to present my Tamburo Original maple stave set.

In 1991 I bought the set you can see in the first five pictures: 16 x 18 BD, 8 x 8, 8 x 10, 8 x 12, 13 x 13 & 14 x 14 TT (all suspended) and a matching 6.5 x 14 SD. With the exception of the 8 tom, all drums, which are very thin, have reinforcing rings. The set was built by Tullio Granatello (Tamburoís founder) and all drums come from the same tree. The hardware is old Yamaha. As you can see, the toms have no RIMS (they were not usual at the beginning of the nineties), but I can assure you that the set is extremely powerful with lots of sustain and beautiful low end (to be honest, I know people who do not like very much the Tamburo Original sound because in their opinion it is too precise!). I think that despite its age (soon 20 years old!), the kit still looks very modern, classy and ... original (sorry but I cannot find another word).

These first five pictures actually present the two different setups I usually used: the first one with two toms on the BD, two floor toms on the right and one tom on the left, and the second with three front toms and two floor toms on the right.

A couple of years ago I came across a 4.25 x 14 SD which I found on e-Bay USA. This snare drum, which is presented in another thread (http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=42160), reveales to better adapt to the relatively small dimension of the other shells. Then, recently, I found a 16 x 22 BD on an Italian site for trading musical instruments, and since the seller did live not very far from where I live, I decided to have a look at it. Tamburo Original 22 BD are relatively unusual and difficult to find, so I thought this was a one time opportunity to expand the sonic possibilities of my kit. Actually, when I saw it I was quite disappointed: the drum was nearly new, but the construction quality did not match the one of my old set. I guess the drum was built right before Tullio Granatello sold the brand to Proel, and I think it was not built by Tullio himself. In fact, the staves are not perfectly matched and glued, and I wanted to stop the deal even before trying it. Nevertheless, since I made the trip I decided to play the kick a little bit, and whow, it did not look very nice but all the beauty of the Original typical sound was there! So I bought it, and I am now trying to see how I can use it.

Pictures 6 and 7 show two different possibilities: a typical rock set or an expanded double bass set. Actually, in all the setups presented below I had to play a little bit with hardware (I still have some stands, pedals and cymbals stored at a friendís place), but I think the results of the experiment are relatively clear.

Should anyone be interested, I can post more pictures.

P.S.: by the way, Tullio Granatello founded a new brand - Volume Drums - which I hope will re-issue the unique old Tamburo Original: http://www.volumedrums.com/

A kit to cherish for life. Very, very special. I especially like the double kick setup.

Yes, I will definitely cherish it for life!

I am really in love with these old yet very modern Tamburo Original sets. Actually I own another Original kit - a walnut kit - which I cannot publish right now because it is still stored at a friend's place.

There is one thing which I find absolutely incredible: Tamburo Original were designed during the second half of the eighties, but in my opinion they still look very modern despite the fact that they do mount intrusive hardware (no RIMS suspension system). In fact, as far as I know Tullio Granatello was the first drum builder to extensively use small diameter yet deep bass drums with bass drum elevators and the first one (in modern drumset design) to adopt stave shells for the entire set. Additionally, the lug casings are very elegant and do not - or at least did not - compare to any other ones.

Finally, what really counts is the sound of the drums, and the Original shells have a very distinctive, precise and rich sound. Not only: these drums are very responsive and easy to tune and to play. I know that many top drummers (also American drummers) have Tamburo Original sets or snares, which they do not use easily in public because of their endorsement contracts with major brands.

Thank you everybody for the kind words.

Here a new picture taken with day light, which better shows the natural beauty of the set.

So, I own one of the cheaper 'Tamburo' (Speech marks!) ply sets and have done since 2005. It's a great kit and this very evening have restored the superb stock snare drum to playable condition after a lug insert sheared (a weak point of the kit!). I can only begin to imagine how fantastic the high-end stuff is. A really beautiful kit there.

Holy cow, what a gorgeous set. I love stave drums - a very ancient way of making drums and the sound is beautiful.

Hi DMC, I was quite surprised not to hear from you since you are a lover of "unusual" drum making (and definitely an expert in the same field!).

Quote:

lovely kit! interesting sizes, Looks like it'd be a blast to play!

more pics please. :)

-Jonathan

Believe me, it is a real pleasure to play that kit: easy to tune, almost unlimited tuning range, can be played with very low physical effort: I love it (most of the time ...).

Concerning the pics, well, I don't have that many pictures of the kit, but hereinafter some further ones. By the way: did anybody notice who is on TV in one of the previous pictures? Exactly, Marilyn and Yves Montand! And you were looking at the drums! No comment ...

Something else: it is now confirmed that Tullio Granatello is re-issuing the former Tamburo Original with new (beautiful) hardware and some other improvements under his new brand, Volume Drums (http://www.volumedrums.com). These drumsets - for the ones who would like to buy one - will therefore no longer be produced by Tamburo (but Tamburo will further offer the other stave model conceived by Tullio, i.e. the Opera).

a very very old Zildjian thin cymbal which was probably the top of an hi hat and that I use like a crash

I also have a 1973 Paiste 602 Medium 20" that is almost a ride cymbal and that I like very much (not shown in the pictures). Sadly I sold a cymbal I still regret, i.e. a K Zildjian 22" ride i bought at the beginning of the 80's.

I hope you don't mind if I resurrect this old thread, but I came across an incredible video of the Tamburo plant that must have been shot around the time I bought my Original (i.e., around 1991). It reminds me of the days I spent there and of the many discussions about drums I had with the great Tullio Granatello, Tamburo's founder.
The video quality is quite poor, but it is really worth watching (in particular carefully listen between 4:50 and 5:30 - wow, that's a serious snare sound!).

The video is interesting for many reasons: first of all because of the beautiful sets you will see and hear, then because of the great playing by both Tullio Granatello and Edoardo d'Imporzano, and finally because of the ambience you can feel by watching people who are so dedicated to music and drums! By the way: around minute 4:50, Tullio talks about Trilok Gurtu's visit and about Trilok getting crazy about Tullio's personal snare!

As you will notice, by that time it was common in Italy to smoke everywhere Ö

I hope you don't mind if I resurrect this old thread, but I came across an incredible video of the Tamburo plant that must have been shot around the time I bought my Original (i.e., around 1991). It reminds me of the days I spent there and of the many discussions about drums I had with the great Tullio Granatello, Tamburo's founder.
The video quality is quite poor, but it is really worth watching (in particular carefully listen between 4:50 and 5:30 - wow, that's a serious snare sound!).

The video is interesting for many reasons: first of all because of the beautiful sets you will see and hear, then because of the great playing by both Tullio Granatello and Edoardo d'Imporzano, and finally because of the ambience you can feel by watching people who are so dedicated to music and drums! By the way: around minute 4:50, Tullio talks about Trilok Gurtu's visit and about Trilok getting crazy about Tullio's personal snare!

As you will notice, by that time it was common in Italy to smoke everywhere …

Still saying that Tamburo is the European response to DW :=)
I'm in love with this brand.